How are you all coping with lockdown?

[harveydales]

Horsey and personal question - has lockdown changed what you do much? Are you all coping OK? I imagine it must be pretty stressful for you, Emily?

I've decided not to risk walking Eve out on the roads "just in case" but other than that, not much has changed for me. Luckily the ponies are on our own land, next to our house so things carry on as usual. Now the ground has dried up I've put all my poles and obstacles in the field with the intention of doing something with Eve to keep her going but this has proved difficult......because of Frankie! He wants to be involved and follows me everywhere I go. In fact I've been doing the obstacles with Frankie free-schooling and poor Eve has to look on longingly. If she tries to join in , he gives her one of his "looks". It's probably good for him as he has become very stiff on his left hind - he is 28 now. My only problem is my farrier won't come out so I'm having to do the feet myself. I've got all the equipment but it is hard work, especially now the feet are rock-hard with the dry ground.

The garden is looking better than it ever has before but I haven't resorted to extra housework yet! Andy is retired now and spends every day doing up the cottage we bought at the end of our drive so life goes on as normal. Some friends are struggling mentally but I'm quite enjoying the peace and quiet. How about you?

[valerie n scout]

Ohhhh Pam I feel your pain, I can only do Scout’s backs from the ground as he won’t lift them 😳
Our Farriers are still visiting x
Once I’ve done scout in the morning, there’s not much for me to do as our yard manager doesn’t want us hanging around ! So it’s quickly done swift groom and off home 🥺

[harveydales]

Apr 15, 2020 8:46:36 GMT -1 valerie n scout said:

Ohhhh Pam I feel your pain, I can only do Scout’s backs from the ground as he won’t lift them 😳
Our Farriers are still visiting x
Once I’ve done scout in the morning, there’s not much for me to do as our yard manager doesn’t want us hanging around ! So it’s quickly done swift groom and off home 🥺

That's the problem I have with Frankie's left hind. He can only lift it off the ground a few inches. His right hind is OK.

[Debbie]

For me since we work on the farm, life hasn't changed that drastically. The worst was last month when all this kicked off. Our beaches were still open and it was almost Spring Break time, so we dashed over to the beach for a quick walk one last time as we didn't know how long the lockdown would last. We'd gone at 10am, a time when the beach is normally empty. While it wasn't packed, and people were giving one another huge berths, the energy was weird. Very weird. We haven't gone to the beach since and in the meantime there's been HUGE fights over it, locals vs tourists.

The state closed the parks and beach entrances. Seaside outright has the right to close the beaches and flat out did (riots in the 1960s) and the other cities have been piecemeal. The biggest issue was city folks driving over to buy up everything in the stores. Many of our cleaning items have been gone for weeks. I doubt we'll see bleach, rubbing alcohol or Hydrogen peroxide for awhile and that's distressing as we use all three for our mushrooms!

Eldon does much of the driving, has to go into the city for the mushrooms, and usually does much of the shopping. He's been regalling me with the changes. I went the one day with him and people were still acting very oddly, although most were minding the social distancing. If it weren't for the weird energy, the whole thing wouldn't be so bad. I've got a personal bubble of space that's at least 6 feet round me, and in normal times, I've never liked people crowding in, but they do because most lines are packed like sardines. I wouldn't mind having the spacing after this goes away.

Poor Evie! Ha! I can just imagine her face. I think it's a good thing for Frankie however. I'm sure the gentle motions are helping his stiffness, and he must be enjoying the one on one time with you.

[mickey]

Work has been mental- been doing a few extra shifts here and there to help and also as I live alone I haven't much other company! This week so far has been calm- I think I've managed 10 days without being shouted at or sworn at, an improvement!
Horse wise I'm so glad we've got our own place. Those who haven't got me on Facebook we managed to get a small yard with 7 acres and 4 stables a couple of years ago. We also rent another 4 acres as the yard is heavy clay. It's meant days off I've spent down at the yard as it's pointless driving there and back twice. No electric but have running water and a gas stove. And a caravan.. I'm not riding. The only one getting exercise is Pait who imm taking out inhand. Restarted couch to 5 k running app and she's doing it too 😂. She's good to lead and on the road.
Little stressed as Evie is due to foal end of April early may.. need to move her to the yard and get foal cam set up and more worrying is removing Rory from her...

[Fi]

If it wasn’t for the actual sickness/death toll and niggling worry about health and friends and family I’d be quite liking the enforced time at home.

The ponies are in the field across the road so doing them is easy. I am still riding a little bit, taking Larry for a short solo hack once a week, and occasionally riding him in the field now it’s finally dried out. But mostly doing bits of inhand work. It’s a bit frustrating that I can’t get hold of bits and pieces to make Trec obstacles, as I’ve very little equipment. Any ideas appreciated!

I can work from home easily, so am doing, and liking the fact that I’m not setting an alarm every morning. Am usually awake early anyway.

The lack of food in the shops was a bit surreal, but as Alan had stockpiled a lot of tins and basics cos he anticipated panic buying due to Brexit, we have been working our way through that. We get milk delivered, and a veg box so have been minimising trips for food. I’ve actually quite enjoyed the challenge of having to create meals from what we have in, rather than shopping daily. And having a bit more time to do it. Made some granola the other day, delicious, so much nicer than shop bought!

I realise how fortunate I am to live where I do, with the ponies at home. It must be a nightmare living in a small high rise flat. And relieved I can do the ponies myself, especially Sammie who suffers with flies a lot. Where I used to keep him, they are discouraging visits except in the field and I don’t think I’d’ve been able to do fly masks etc twice a day.

Hope everyone stays safe x

[harveydales]

Gosh, Emily, I do think of you working at your pharmacy. It can't be easy and I can imagine the attitude of some customers. It must be a relief to get to the ponies. I'm enjoying just spending time sitting in the field chilling with my lot - it's nice to have the time to do that, just being instead of "doing" all the time. But I guess you don't have that luxury.

Fi- it sounds that your life is very much like mine at the moment. We are so lucky to have the ponies on our doorstep.

Debbie - yes you are right, Frankie is really enjoying having more one to one time with me and is becoming very clingy!I now feel bad that I never gave him much of my time before as it was always Harvey and then Eve.

[dalesnfellfan]

Not much difference for us as we are retired and have the ponies at home, not posted on here for a while, I sadly lost Emerald last Xmas, still have Connie (not registered) and also have had Roandale Pippa for just over 2 years. Hope you are all well

[mickey]

Sorry to hear you lost Emerald
It's nice to see people back on here I've missed the old dalesfans days where we all knew each others ponies, what they were up to etc.

Days off I enjoy at the stables but aren't riding so they feel a bit wasted. I was having regular lessons on Jane (roandale mary mac ii for those trying to keep track of my ponies!) trying to reschool her as I don't think she'd had the best start in life and so very very nearly disappeared out of the dales world for good. So it's disappointing to come to a standstill with her. Pait is currently being dragged out to restart couch to 5k- she will loose a few pounds!

[dalesnfellfan]

Emily, Jane is lovely, I met her a few times last summer at Trec competitions in Lincolnshire with Rachael and liked her very much, what is her story, how did she nearly disappear? I take it she is back with you now and not still on loan to Rachael. I think she is half sister to my Pippa, by Bobby? Pippa is Roandale Bobby xRoandale Kit.

[mickey]

I'll message you as it's probably not one for the board 😉

[harveydales]

Emily - I'd be interested in the story too. Seems to be a pattern. Frankie "went missing" for a few years and there is the blank 18 months when Eve disappeared from records. Would love to know what happened to her during that period. I suspect it would explain a lot! I did discover much of Frankie's story and it does explain his behaviour.